The Exploration of Racism in the United States The Secret Life of Bees, a 2001 novel by Sue Monk Kidd, emphatically describes the history of black people who suffered a variety of unequal treatment in the United States. White Americans think African Americans are a symbol of laziness and stupid, and they discriminate against blacks which is manifested in all aspects of society. In the story, a white man is not punished after he beats a black woman Rosaleen in the police station, even though the black woman is innocent. Rosaleen tells Lily, "He hit me till the policeman said that was enough" (46). It reflects the seriousness of racism in American society. Racism is a long historical problem in the US. In an article in China Human Rights, Kunxin Xiong claims that "Since the first group African slaves were sold to the United States in the 17 century, racial discrimination has existed. Racial discrimination refers to dividing people into different social strata according to their races. Dominant race denies disadvantaged race has an equal right to use of the valuable social resources" (Historical Investigation and). This is the discrimination between different races in a country. High-level White Americans' discrimination against low-level African Americans is manifesting the backwardness of society and the twisty values of White Americans. Jianhua Jiang, writing in Science& Technology Information, asserts that "Although the Civil War and subsequent bills ended slavery, White Americans did not end racial discrimination toward blacks. In fact, segregation in public places in the United States as a legal system existed for more than 70 years. Due to the long-term effects of slavery, racism, and racial discrimination, African Americans as a whole in many areas were at a significant disadvantage compared to whites" (Jiang 210). While all ethnic minorities are still discriminated against in the US, blacks are more vulnerable to discrimination by all races, even though discrimination has become a part of their daily life. Thus visible that racism is an inescapable problem in the US, and it has been incorporated into every corner of society's life.
Racism is a historical and global focus issue, and countless people are committed to studying racism. What racism is became a basic question? American Heritage College Dictionary states that "Racism is the belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to another" (What is Racism). This is an extremely selfish expression. Idealism makes them sublimate in the wrong direction then racism occurs. According to What is Racism, Alain de Benoist stated that "1) A belief in the superiority of one race, and more rarely of several races, over others. This belief is usually accompanied by a hierarchical classification of racial groups; 2) The idea that this superiority and inferiority are of a biological or bio-anthropological nature. The conclusion dr...
